Subgkradiire machine



April 9, 1929. H. EVERIST 1,708,835

SUBGRADI NG MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l N 'glwmnto'c Hubert Z'merw g K Q April 9, 1929. H. EVERIST SUBGRADING' MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1927 April 9, 1929. H. EVERIST SUBGRADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 18, 1927 gwuantoz fiubert Ererz'st,

ANS.

April 9, 1929. H. EVERIST SUBGRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet April 9, 1929. H. EVEREST 1,708,835

SUBGRADING MACHI NE Filed Aug. 18, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HwZ/erzErem/uj Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES:

HUBERT EVERIST, 0F SEOUX CITY, IOWA.

SUBGRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed August 18,

The invention relates to a subgrading machine.

The object of the present inventionis to improve the construction of subgrading machines and to provide a simple, practical and etlicient subgrading machine of strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction equipped with a subgradcr proper having; a carriage adapted to run on the road terms at opposite sides of the subgrade or roadway and carrying rotary cutting members adapted to be driven by a tractor external to the subgrader and capable of advancing the subgrader as the cutting progresses whereby the road forms are subjccted only to the weight and pressure of the subgradcr proper and are relieved of the weight of the propelling means and the means for actuating the rotary cutting members and are thereby prevented from being destroyed or otherwise injured by the saber-ruling machine. v

A. further object of the invention is to provide a subgrading machine in which the traction will be upon the subgrade and which will be capable of adjusting the subgl'itlilfil' proper vertically to regulate the pressure of the same on the road forms and to produce a proper cutting action on the subgradc so that the latter may be accurately cut without injuring the road terms. Heretoiiore attempts have been made to mount the propelling mechanism andthe power for operating the cutting members on the frame or carriage which travels on the road terms but this proved unsuccessful and impractical for the reason that the road terms are of a temporary char-mater at best and unable to sustain the weight of such mechanism. Also attempts have been made to operate a subgrador by means of a post tired in front of the work and a cable connected with the post and wound up by a power winch on the subgradcr but this has also been found to be impracti :al and has been abandoned. The nesent machine accomplishes the results sought without danger of: subjecting the road forms to excessive strain.

Also at the present time the roadway is roughed out by means which leaves three or tour inches of dirt distributed over the roadway to be removed by hand. The current practice is to set the forms at the proper height andpick and shovel out the surplus material left by the rough graders. Naturally, the cost of this is high and :lur-

1927. Serial No. 213,855.

thermore the work is exceedingly slow. It is also the object of the present invention to eliminate the foregoing objections to road grading and to provide a subgrading machine equipped with rotary cut-ting members arranger. at an angle to the 't'orward travel of the machine and adapted to constantlv throw the dirt forward and to cause, the dirt eventually to tail out at the back in. wind rows or piles along the subgrade in a finely ground form so that it may be readily ha1i died by one or two men and thrown outside of the terms or spread to fill low spots in the event the grade is below normal. The angle lar arranggement of the rotary cutting members eliminates the longitudinal ridges left in the subgrade by transversely disposed rotary cutters which also spread the loose material the full width of the roadway making it very diillcult and costly to remove such material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a road grading machine equipped with adjusting means 'for raising and lowering the subgrader prop r not only for controlling the depth ot the cut and the pressure on the side terms, but also for the purpose of elevating the subgrader a sufiicient dis tance above the roadway to render the road grader highly portable and enable the same to be moved out oi the way so tha he road grading machine will not interiere with other road laying operations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a road grading machine which will be capable of one man operatirm and in which the subgrader proper will have sutli cient flexibility without liability oi damaging the pow r nuazhanism.

Another object of the invention to provide asubgrailinc macnine which will be automatically guided by the road forms when operating as a subgrader and which may be readily guided when transferring the machine from one point or place to another.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illiiistrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims oereio appended, it being understood. that various changes in the form, pr0- portion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit proper.

Fig. 5 va transverse sectional view taken centrally through the subgrader and illu trating the niechanism'for raising and lowering the same.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view tak n Substantially on the line (3-6 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the manner of mounting the shafts of the diagonally disposed cutting members.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 8.8 of Fig. 5.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated-the preferred embodiment of the invention the road grading machine comprises in its construction a tractor l having reartractor WheelsQ and provided with an arched elongated frame 3 composed of spaced forwardly converging frame members ex tending forwardly from the axle 42 of the rear tractor wheels 2 to a front axle 5. The front axle is equipped with front steering wheels 6 which are connected with a suitable steering mechanism comprising a downwardly and forwardly inclined longitudinah .ly disposed steering shaft 7 having a steering wheel 8 at its upper rear end and provided at its lower end with a suitable crank element which is suitably connected with a steering rod 9 connecting the arms 10 of the spindles of the front steering wheels 6 in the usual manner. Any suitable steering mechanism may, of course, be employed and it is adapted for guiding the road grading machine when the same is being transj'ioi ted fromo'ne place to another or is being removed from the roadway so as not to inter fere with other road operations.

The elongated frame of thetractor arches a subgrader proper comprising a carriage frame 11 extending across the roadway and provided with flanged wheels 12 arranged to run. on the road forms 13. The carriage frame which may be of any desired construction is preferably composed of parallel channel members and suitable connecting members, the flanged Wheels being mounted between extended terminals 14 of end connecting members 15 arranged .in pairs as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and l of the drawings. The carriage carries the rotary cuttingmembers hereinafter described and the road forms on which the flanged wheels Neither the power for moving the subgrader proper forwardly nor the power for driving'the rotary cutting members is mounted upon the carriage so that ex cessive wear and tear on the road forms is eliminated.

The carriage frame long and it is connected with the'tractor at opposite sides thereof by means of forwardly diverging links liipivoted at their rear ends in brackets 17 of the tractor and at their front ends in brackets 18 of the carriage frame 11.. The brackets 1? are provided with recesses 19 to receive the rear terminals of the inclined links 16 which are secured to the brackets by transverse bolts 20. The front brackets 18 are also provided with recesses 21 and the front ends of the links 16 are secured to the brackets 18 by transverse bolts 22. The terminals of the links are bent at an angle to arrange them in parallelism with each other and with the road forms. The links 16 with the pivotal connections at their front and rear ends provide a flexible connection between the subgrader propjustments of the subgrader will not result in any in ury to the tractor. The brackets 18 are located 1n spaced relation with the extended frame of the tractor and at an intermcc liate point between the'frame and the road forms so that power is equally applied to the subgrader properat opposite sides of the center thereof. The tractor Wheels 2 are arranged on the subgrade so that a firm engagement of the tractor wheels with the roadway is assured as well as a horizontal positioning of the tractor ,at the crown of the roadway. The front steering Wheels are located in advance of the subgrader proper and will in practice sufliciently flexibly connected with the fame so that any in equalities in the roadway will not affect the position of the tractor on the subgrade.

The subgrader proper is equipped with a plurality of angularly related rotary cuttingis approximately ohand the tractor so thatthe various admembers which are arranged in Overlapping relation" so as to cover the entire surface of the roadway may, of course, be of any desired number and of different lengths and they cover the entire surface of the subgrade between the road forms and the outer rotary cutting members 24 are disposed at a slight lateral inclination to give a crown to the roadway as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The rotary cutting members may, of course, be adjusted to cut the desired amount of crown or to out a perfectly level subgrade. Each rotary cutting member consists of a series of rotary cutters 26 consisting of a central hub portion 27 and diametrically disposed arms 28 equipped at their front edges with cutting teeth 29 extending forwardly or in the direction of the rotation of the rotary cutting members and adapted to throw the cut dirt forwardly and the material cut from the roadway to form the subgrade is cut in an extremely fine condition and will eventually tail out at the back in windrows or piles along the subgrade and yet distribute over the entire surface of the subgrade. This dirt in its fine condition and the discharge of the material in rows or piles will enable the matter to be readily handled by one or: two men at a minimum cost. The cut material may be used for makinglills in portions of the roadway below the normal grade or otherwise disposed of. No claim is made in the present application to the particular construction of the rotary cutters of the cutting members as this forms the subject matter of my Patent No. 1,661,692, granted March 6, 1928. The rotary cutters are fixed to shafts which are mounted in adjustable self-aligning bearings adapted to enable the different rotary cuttings members to be arranged at various heights so that any prac tical subgrade contour can be finished automatically.

Power is transmited from the tractor to the rotary cutting members by means of sprocket gearing located at one side of the tractor and comprising a sprocket pinion 30 connected with the motor of the tractor a sprocket gear 31 ofa driving speed reduction jack shaft 32 and a sprocket chain 33 arranged on and meshing with the sprocket pinion and the sprocket gear. The driving speed reducing jack shaft 32 is journaled in suitable bearings of the carriage frame of the subgrader proper and it disposed transversely thereof and centrally of the same at the rear portion of the said carriage frame. The driving speed reducing jack shaft 32 connected by sprocket gearing with a main drive shaft 34 comprising a sprocket pinion 85 mounted on the speed reducing jack shaft 82, a sprocket gear 36 fixed to the main drive shaft 34 and a sprocket chain 37 arranged on and meshing with the sprocket pinion and the sprocket gear 36. The main drive shaft 34 is journaled in suitable bearings of the carriage framell and is disposed transversely thereof slightly in rear of the center of the same as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The sprocket gearing forms a flexible connection between the tractor and the subgrader proper and isyieldable with the pivoted links to allow independent movement of the -tractor and the subgrader proper.

The main drive shaft is equipped at its ends with spur gear wheels 38 which mesh with spur gear wheels 39 fixed to the inner rear ends of forwardly diverging shanks 4O journaled in suitable bearings of the carriage and equippedat their front ends with spur pinions 41 which mesh with spur pinions 42 of front diagonally disposed shafts 43 arranged at right angles to the forwardly diverging shafts 40. The gears 38, 39, 41 and 42 are beveled gears and the diagonally disposed shafts and 43 are positively geared by spur gearing with the main drive shaft and constitute driving gearing and are connected by sprocket gearing with the rotary cutting members for rotating the same. The sprocket gearing hereinafter described provide a flexible driving connection between the driving shafts and the rotary cutting men'ibers to allow for independent movement and adjustim-mt of the rotary .:utting menu bers and the number of the links of the sprocket chains hereinafter described may, of course,fbe varied to permit any adjustment of the rotary members as will be readily understood. The forwardly diverging drive shafts 40 are connected with the shafts 44 of the outer rotary cutting members by sprocket gearing comprising a sprocket pinion 45 mounted on the shaft 40 a sprocket gear 46 mounted on the shaft 44 and a sprocket chain 47 arranged on the sprocket pinion and the sprocket gear 46 and meshing with the same and transn'litting motion from the drive shaft 40 to the shaft 44 of the outer rotary cutting member. The inner rotary cutting men'ibers 523 are connected with the short diagonally disposed drive shafts 43 by sprocket gearing comprising a sprocket pin- 10H 48 mounted on the drive shaft 43 a sprocket gear wheel 49 mounted on the shaft 50 of the inner rotary cutting member 23 and a sprocket shaft 51 arranged on the sprocket pinion 48 and the sprocket: gear 49 and meshing with the same as clearly-shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The central diagonally disposed rotary cutting member is connected with the left hand diagonally disposed drive shaft 40 by means of sprocket gearing consisting of a sin'ocket pinion 52 mounted on the left hand drive shaft 40 a sprocket gear 58 fixed to the front end of the shaft 54 of the central rotary cutting member and a sprocket chain 55 arranged on andmeshing with the sprocket pinion 52 and the sprocket gear 53. The main centrally arranged. transverse drive shaft 84: and the diagonally disposed anguiarly related side drive shafts it) and 4:3 are adapted to be mounted'in rigid or fixed bearings of the carriage of the subgrader proper and they afford positive means for driving the adjustable diagonally disposed rotary cutting men1- ber's which are connected with the said driving shafts by flexible gearing which .vill admit of the adjustment of the rotary driving membe I The subgrader properis adjustably connected with the tractor by means of opposite jacks 56 mounted on the arched frame 3 of the tractor centraliy of the said frame 3 and at opposite sides thereo't and comprising vermounted in brackets 59 of extensions 60 of the arched frame between upper and lower thrust bearings 61 and 62. Thescrews 57 are connected at their lower ends with pedestals 63 which may be hinged at the'bottom to the carriage frame... Any suitable hinge connection may be provided ant. the pivots or pintles thereof are disposed transversely with relation to the frame ofthe machine and permit a relative pivotal or tilting movement between the mainframeof the tractor and the carriage frame of the sub grader proper. The thrust bearings may be ball bearings or roller bearings of any desired construction and the bracket 59 is approximately inverted U-shaped and composed of, spaced sides and a connecting top portion the sides being preferably shaped as shown to taper the upper. and lower portions of the bracket and provide the necessary clearance for the gear nuts. The gear nuts consist ofgearwheels for interiorly threaded hubs engaging the threads of the screws 57. The gear nuts 58 mesh with spur pinions 65 fixed to the ends of a transverse shaft 66 journaled in suitablebearings (3'? of the extensions of the arched frame of thetractor and provided .with a hand wheel 67 by means of which the shaft 66 may be rotated for .o iierating the jacksto raise or lower the subgrade proper. If desired the jacks may beprovided with a springsuspension of any desired character for yieldably connecting the subgrader proper with the screws of thejacks for cushioning the action of the jacks. The acks are adaptedtobe adjusted to raise or lower thesubgrader proper for arranging the same at the proper cutting elevation. and to adjust the pressure of the subgrader on the road forms. Also the jacks are adapted to enable the subgrader to be lifted clear of the roadway so that the entire machine may be moved from the line of work. Thiswill enable the subgrading machine to be readily moved out of the way so as not to interfere with other road laying operations. The

'subgrader when in operation will engage theroadway and the road forms with the desired pressure. This will enable the road cutting and subgradin g operations to be accuratelyperformed without excessive wear and tear on the road forms. In operation the device 1s not effectiveas the machine s'teeri is guided by the flanged wheels onthe road forms.

VJ hen the subgrader is lifted from the forms the. steering wheeloperates the front wheels and the entire mechanism can be guided. anywhere under its own power.

In Fig. 5 of the drawingsis illustrated a yieldable flexible connection. between the vertical screws 57 and the pedestal 63 which areprovided with vertical chambers 68 receiving coiled springs 69 arranged in pairs and located above and below collars 7 0 carried by the vertical screws 57. The-lower portions 71 of the vertical screws are smooth and extend through openings 72 of caps 73 andopenings 74in the bottom walls of the chambers 68 of the pedestals. The caps 73 are suitably secured to the pedestals and constitute the top walls thereof and are readily removable to afford access. to the springs. The openings 72 in the caps and the openings 74- in the bottom Walls of the said chamber 68 areof suilicient size to permit lateral movement, ofthe parts which '00- gather with thereiative vertical movement of the pedestals and the screws will provide a pivotal. :uwtion and a hinge connection between the screws and the pedestals. The springs produce a cushioning action on the rotary cutting members aswell as a spring suspension for-the same.

The diagonal shafts of the rotary cutting members may be mounted-in any form of adjustable bearing and in Fig. 16 of the drawings is'iliustrated one form of bearing comprising a suitablecasing 75 having an annular chamber, the circumferential wall. 76 of which forms one race or groove for anti-friction;balls77. The other groove or race is formed by a collar or djslr' 78, mountedon the shaft of the rotary cutting member and provided inits periphery with a transverseiy concave groove. 79. This form of ball hearing will permit a relative rocking movement ofthe shaftsof therotary cutters but any other form of hearing may be'provided formounting the ends of the shafts of the diagonally disposed rotary cutting members.

The adjustment ofthe bearing is obtained 1. A subgrading machine including a care riage extending across the roadway and provided with wheels arranged'to run on road forms, said carriage being provided with rotary cutting members, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage frame and provided with front steering wheels located in advance of the carriage frame, said tract-or being provided at the rear end with tractor wheels arranged to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the tractor with the carriage frame for propelling the carriage and flexible gearing for connecting the rotary cutter members with the tractor for operating the said cutting members.

2' A subgrading machine including a carriage extending across the roadway, said carriage being provided with rotary cutting members, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage frame and provided with front steering wheels located in advance of the carriage frame, said tractor being provided at the rear end with tractor Wheels arranged to run on the subgrade,

and links'located in rear of the carriage and connecting the tractor with the said. carriage and provided at their ends with flexible joints, and flexible gearing for connecting the rotary cutter members with the tractor for operating the said cutting members.

3. A subgrading machine including a carriage extending across the roadway, said carriage being provided with rotary cute ting members, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage frame and provided with front steering wheels located in advance of the carriage frame, said tractor being provided at the rear end with tractor wheels arranged to run on the subgrade,

front brackets mounted on the carriage at opposite sides of the tractor in spaced relation with the same, rear brackets secured to the tractor at opposite sides thereof and forwardly diverging links hinged at their rear ends to the rear brackets andat their front ends to the front brackets for flexibly con- .necting the carriage with the tractor, and flexible gearing for connecting the rotary cutter members with the tractor for operating the said cutting members.

4. A subgrading machine including a car vance of the same with front steering wheels, said tractor having traction wheels located in rear of the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the carriage with the tractor for propelling the carriage, and flexible gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the tractor, and means mounted on the tractor frame and connected with the carriage for raise ing and lowering the same into and out of position for operation and for controlling the pressure of the carriage.

5. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, rotary cutting members carried by the carriage, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage and provided in advance of the same with frontsteering wheels, said. tractor having traction wheels located in rear of the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the carriage with the tractor for propelling the carriage, flexible gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the tractor, spaced jacks mounted 011 the tractor frame at opposite sides thereof and connected with the carriage and gearing connecting the jacks for simultaneously operating the same to raise and lower the carriage out of and into position and for controlling the pressure of the carriage.

6. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, rotary cutting members carried by the carriage, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage and provided in advance of the same with front steering Wheels, said tractor having traction wheels located in rear of the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the carriage with the tractor for propelling the carriage, flexible gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the tractor, spaced acks located at opposite sides of the tractor frame and comprising vertically adjustable screws connected with the carriage, and gear nuts mounted on the tractor frame and engaging the threads of the screws, and gearing for sin'niltaneously rotating thegear nuts. 7. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, rotary cutting members carried by the carriage, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage and provided in advance of the same with front steering wheels, said tractor having traction wheels located in rear of the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the carriage with the tractor for propelling the carriage, fl "aible gearing connecting the rotary members with the tr A cor, spaced adjustable screwscminected with thecarriage, gear nuts mounted on the tractor frame and engaging the threads oi the screws, a

transverse shaft mounted on the tractor frame and extending across the same and provided with gears n'nmhing with the gear nuts, and means for rotating the said shaft;

8. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, rotary cutting-members carried by the carriage, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carria 'e andprovidcd in ad Vance oi the same with front steering wheels, said tractor having traction wheels located in rear of the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means'ior connecting the carriage with the tractor for propelling the carriage flexible gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the tractor, adjustingmeans for raising and lowering the carriage comprising bearing brackets mounted on the carriage at opposite sides thereof,

vertical screws extending-through the bean. ingbrackets and connected at their lower ends with-the carriage, gear nutsarranged in the bearing brackets and engaging the threadsot the screws, and a shaft extending across thefrzime the tractor and having gears meshing, with the gear nuts for simultaneously rotating the same.

r 9. A sub 'radin r machine includin a car-' a i a b riage adapted to extend across a roadway,

rotary cutting members carried by the car-- riage, a tractor having'an extended frame arching the carriage and provided 1n ad- Vance of the same with front steering wheels,

said tractor having traction wheels located thrust bearin 's mounted in the brackets and arranged above and below the gear nuts a transverse shait extending across the tractor frame and having, gears meshing with the gear nuts, and manually operable means for rotating the shaft.

10. A subgrading machine including a carriage extending across the roadway rotary cutting members carried by the carriage and arranged diagonally with relation to the roadway in spaced overlappingrelation and having rotary cutters arranged to throw the cut materlal continuously forward and cause a tailing of the cut material in ges, and-a tractor having means cxternalto the carriage for propelling the same and fol-driving the rotary V cuttii'ig members. i

I 11. A subgrader machine including a car riage extending across the roadway, rotary cutting memberscarried by the carriage. and arranged diagonally with relation to the roadway in spaced overlapping relation and having rotary cutters arranged tothrow the cut material continuously forward and'cause a tailing of the cut material in windrows or rid es v and a tractor havin tractor V a ry cutting members carried by the carriage. and arranged diagonally, with relation to the c roadway in spaced overlapping relation-and having rotary cuttersarranged to throw the cut material. continuously forward and cause atailing of the cut material, in windrows or ridges, a tractor having tractor wheels arrangec to run on the'subgirade, s id tractor having flexible means forn'ropellin the carriage and for driying the rotary cutting members, and adjusting means connecting the carriage with the tractor for varying the pressure of the carrn the same into position andfo'r raisi sa ine out of position. I

13; A subgrading machine including-e a carriage extending across the roa-dmvayrotary cutting members carried by the carriage and arranged dia'gena'lly with relation to the roadway in spaced overlapping relation and having rotary cutters airrangedto throw the cut material continuously forward and cause a tailing o1"- the cut material in win irowsor ridges, and a tractor having an extended frame archingthe carriage; said i tractor be.

ing provided in advance of the carriagewvith steering 'whe'elsnnd in rear of the carriage withtracto'r' wheels arranged to run on-the subgrade, and flexible means for connecting the tractbr' with thecarriageto'pro'pel the latter and with the rotary cutting members for driving thesame;

14; A" subgrading machine in'cluding a j carriage adapted to extend across aroadway and provided witl'r wheels,-outcr forwardly diverging diagol'ially' disposed rotary cutting members, inner forwardly convergingro tar-y cuttin members spaced from the rear ends of the: outer cutting members, thelatter being arranged in overlapping relation with the inner cutting members, and a central diagonally disposed rotary cutting member arranged in rearofand in overlappingrelajtion with the front ends oft-he inner rotary cutting members. I

til)

15. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roads Way, outer forwardly diverging diagonally disposed rotary cutting members, inner forwardly converging rotary cutting members spaced from the rear ends of the outer cut ting members, the latter being arranged in overlapping relation with the inner cutting members, a central diagonally disposed rotary cutting member arranged in rear of and in overlapping relation with the front ends of the inner rotary cutting members, a centrally arranged main driving shaft, forwardly diverging side driving shafts located at opposit sides of the main driving shaftand extending in advance of the same, outer driving shafts extending rearwardly at outer ends of the side driving shafts at right angles thereto, beveled gears mounted. on the said shafts and arranged in pairs and meslr ing with each other, and sprocket gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the adjacent shafts.

16. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, outer forwardly diverging diagonally disposed rotary cutting members, inner forwardly converging rotary cutting members spaced from the rear ends of the outer cutting members, the latter being arranged in overlapping relation with the inner cutting members, a central diagonally disposed rotary cutting member arranged in rear of and in overlapping relation with the front ends of the inner rotary cutting members, a centrally arranged main driving shaft forwardly diverging side driving shafts located at opposite sides of the main driving shaft and extending in advance of the same, outer driving shafts extending rearwardly at the outer ends of the side driving shafts at right angles thereto, beveled gears mounted on the said shafts and arranged in pairs and meshing with each other and sprocket gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the adjacent shafts, a tractor having an extended frame and arching the carriage and provided in advance of the same with front steering wheels and having rear tractor wheels located in rear of the carriage and arranged to run on the subgrade, sprocket gearing connecting the tractor with the main driving shaft, and flexible means for connecting the tractor with the carriage for propelling the same.

17. A subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway and provided with wheels arranged to run on road forms, outer forwardly diverging diagonally disposed rotary cutting meml'iers, in nor forwardly converging rotary cutting members spaced from the rear ends of the outer cutting members, the latter being ranged in over-lapping relation with the inner front ends of the 1 cutting members, cel'itral diagonally disposed rota v cuttnug' memli ers arranged in rear of and in overl )ing, relation with the hers, a centrally arranged main driving shaft, forwardly diverging side driving shafts located at opposite sides of the main driving shaft and extending in advance of the same, outer driving shafts extending rcarwardiy at the outer ends of the side driving shafts at right angles thereto, beveled gears mounted on the said shafts and arranged in pairs and aneshing with each other and sprocket gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the adj cent shafts, a tractor having an extended frame and arching the carriage and provided in advance of the same with front steering wheels and having rear tractor wheels located in rear of the carriage and arranged to run on the subgrade, sprocket gearing connecting the tractor with'the main driv ing shaft, and forwardly diverging links located at opposite sides of the tractor in rear of the carriage and pivetally connected at their front ends to the said carriage and at their rear ends to the tractor.

18.1% subgrading machine including a carriage adapted to extend across a roadway, rotary cutting members carried by the carriage, a tractor having an extended frame arching the ca; 'iage and pro ided in advance of the same with steering wheels and having traction wheels located in rear oI the carriage to run on the subgrade, flexible means for connecting the rotary cutting members with the tractor, and spaced jacl s located at opposite sides of the tractor frame and comprising vertically adjustable screws, nuts mounted on the tractor frame and engaging tin! threads of the screws, pedestals mounted on the carriage and receiving the lower portions of the said screws, and springs arranged in pairs in the pedestals and forming a yieldalr-le connection between the screws and the pedestals to provide a spring suspension and a cushioning action for the carriage.

19. A subgrading machine including a carriage frame, a shaft, rotary cutting members mounted on the shaft self-aligning bearings receiving the ends of the shaft, and adjustable n'ieans arranged exteriorly of the bearings for connecting the bearings with the carriage frame, said means including plurality of shims adapted to be varied in number to effect an adjustment of the shaft.

20; A subgrading machine including a carriage provided with wheels,outer forwardly diverging diagonally disposed rotary cutting members, inner forwardly converging rotary cutting men'ibersspaced from the rear ends of the outer cutting members, the latter being arranged in overlapping renner rotary cutting memlation with the inner cutting membergand means carried by the said carriage for retating the said cutting members.

21. A subgrading j machine including a tractor having an extended frame and pro vided Withfront steering Wheels and having i'earti'aetion Wheels, a carriage located beneath the frame of the tractor and provided With Wheels, spaced jacks located at opposite sides of the tractor frame and comprising vertically adjustable vvs connected With the carriage, and nuts mounted on the tractor frame and engaging the threads of the screws, and manually operable gearing for rotating the nuts to operate the acks.

22. A subgradinp; machine including a carriage extending across the roadway, said carriage being, provided Withrotary cutting members, a tractor having an extended frame arching the carriage frame andprovided With-front steering Wheels located in advance of the carriage frame, said tractor being provided at the rear end With tractor heels arranged to run on the subgrade, fiexlble means for connecting the tractor With the carriage frame for propelling the spaced from the rear ends of the outer cutthe same, outer driving shafts extending rearivardly at the outer ends of the side driving shafts at right angles thereto, beveled gears mounted on the said shafts and arranged in pairs and meshing with each other and sprocket gearing connecting the rotary cutting members with the adjacent sl'iafts a of the carriage and arranged: to run on the snbgrade, sprocket gearing connecting the tractor with the main driving sl1aft,a11d

forwardly diverging links located at op posite sides of the tractor in rear of the carriage and pivotally connected atftl'i'eir front ends to the said carriage and-at their rear ends to the tractor. I

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand.

HUBERT EVER-I81;- 

